E-hailing drivers warned after reports of hijackings in Lotus River
Safety concerns have prompted a local community forum to urge drivers to remain vigilant when accepting trips or deliveries in parts of Cape Town’s southern suburbs.
E-hailing and delivery drivers are being warned about a surge in hijackings and robberies in Lotus River, with Farm Crescent identified as a hotspot. Social media warnings report numerous Uber drivers and delivery riders being targeted in the area, prompting drivers to exercise increased caution when accepting requests. Nicole Jacobus, chairperson of the Grassy Park Community Police Forum (CPF), confirmed the safety concerns raised by e-hailing drivers and delivery riders.
Jacobus stated that the CPF is aware of the issue but admitted not all incidents are reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS), making it difficult to gauge the true extent of the problem. She urged victims of crime to report incidents to SAPS. While the warning specifically mentions Farm Crescent, Jacobus emphasized that robberies have also occurred in other areas of Grassy Park, making it challenging to pinpoint a single hotspot.
She emphasized that these incidents can occur at any time of the day and that locations change, complicating the prediction of the next incident. The CPF has created an awareness poster about the safety risks facing e-hailing drivers, which has been shared through community WhatsApp groups and the CPF's Facebook page. Additionally, the CPF has emailed various e-hailing companies to express their concerns and seek engagement, although no response has been received.
Western Cape SAPS commented that crime statistics are released quarterly by the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
